Open AccessAuricular Acupressure for Analgesia in Perioperative Period of Total Knee Arthroplasty
Author(s) -
He Bang Jian,
Tong Pei Jian,
Li Ju,
Jing Hong Ting,
Yao Xin Miao
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pain medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.893
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1526-4637
pISSN - 1526-2375
DOI - 10.1111/pme.12197
Subject(s) - medicine , acupressure , analgesic , anesthesia , perioperative , visual analogue scale , osteoarthritis , adverse effect , incidence (geometry) , orthopedic surgery , arthroplasty , randomized controlled trial , surgery , total knee arthroplasty , range of motion , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , optics
Objective We examined whether auricular acupressure ( AA ) can alleviate postoperative pain and decrease narcotic consumption and its adverse effects for osteoarthritis patients after total knee arthroplasty ( TKA ). Design A prospective, randomized, sham control trial comparing AA and a sham control. Setting D epartment of O rthopedics, the first H ospital affiliated to Z hejiang U niversity of T raditional C hinese M edicine, H angzhou, C hina. Subjects Ninety patients with degenerative osteoarthritis undergoing TKA . Interventions The AA group received true AA by embedding vaccaria seeds at four specific AA points (knee joint, shenmen, subcortex, sympathesis) ipsilateral to the surgery site, while the control group received four nonacupuncture points on the auricular helix. Outcome Measures Visual analog scale ( VAS ), the consumption of analgesic via patient‐controlled analgesia, the incidence of analgesia‐related adverse effects, H ospital for S pecial S urgery scores ( HSS ), and range of motion ( ROM ) were recorded.Results VAS scores were similar at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h postsurgery ( P > 0.05), but AA group scores were lower than those of the control group at 3, 4, 5, and 7 days ( P < 0.05). Patients in the AA group consumed lower doses of analgesic than those in the control group after surgery ( P < 0.05). The incidence of analgesia‐related adverse effects in the AA group was lower than that in the control group ( P < 0.05). Although HSS scores were similar in the two groups preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively ( P > 0.05), HSS scores 2 weeks postoperatively were higher in the AA group than in the control group ( P < 0.05), but there was no difference between groups in ROM ( P > 0.05). Conclusions Applying auricular acupoint acupressure in the perioperative period of TKA is favorable for alleviating postoperative pain, decreasing opioid consumption and its adverse effects, and promoting early rehabilitation. Also, this intervention has the advantage of lower costs, fewer complications, simple application, and high safety.